Friday, June 17, 2005

Sherwood Forced?

Bobo's World is essential but relentless and ultimately depressing reading. Today it brings us an update on the story of Representative Don Sherwood (R., Pa.), he of the twitchy digits.

Snippy snippy follows. The whole thing is over here. (No attribution for the original press source.)

U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood of Northeastern Pennsylvania repeatedly punched and choked a Maryland woman during a "five-year intimate relationship" with her, according to a lawsuit filed yesterday.

Cynthia Ore, 29, of Rockville, Md., says that after each "unprovoked and vicious attack," Sherwood, 64, promised he wouldn't do it again and begged her not to leave him, according to the four-count lawsuit filed by Patrick M. Regan, a Washington lawyer.

[...]

The complaint states that throughout the relationship, Sherwood repeatedly struck Ore on her face, neck, chest and back, violently yanked her hair, and tried to strangle her.

In the complaint, Ore states that she lived with Sherwood in Washington for much of the relationship and that he repeatedly promised to marry her and start a family.

Sherwood is married and has three daughters.

[...]

Metropolitan Police said at the time that they saw no physical evidence of injury to Ore and noted that "both parties have left out significant information or are not willing to discuss in detail what actually happened."

Police said Ore "did not appear to be of sound mind" and initially said she was choked, then changed her story.

Ore said she was dazed and distressed when the police arrived, but denies changing her story.

Sherwood has denied choking Ore and has referred to her as a "casual acquaintance." He told police he was giving her a backrub when she "jumped up" and ran.

No matter how high they rise, deep down the Sherwoods of this world are trailer trash. You can see it in the relationships they form. It doesn't matter one iota if the assaults did or didn't happen; both parties are plainly dysfunctional whichever way you slice it, and the whole thing reads like something from COPS. Plus, why do I keep feeling like Cynthia's surname is missing a leading apostrophe?